Historically I have been absolutely terrible with keeping plants in pots and containers. There is so much pleasure and joy found tending the garden that I seem to run out of time for the small pot bound plants, not as in out grown with encircled roots, but bound as in confined without the freedom of sending their roots off at will in a direction that … Continue reading Keep you friends close… and your water closer.
It might sound sacrilegious this early in the season, but I found myself with a rather large bowl of strawberries in the back of the fridge. I had harvested a mountain of berries before heading out for the evening and with the intention of doing something with them the next day, like slicing them with my egg slicers and marinating them in mint and a … Continue reading New cordial from old strawberries
Finally, the weather blessed us with a fabulous weekend. It was hot, blue sky amazing and perfect for time in the garden. You could almost see the plants breathing a sigh of relief as they stretched out their leaves to receive the full impact of the sun. And of course, I was out there revelling in it too, with a thick layer of sunscreen and … Continue reading Control at last
My strawberries, historically have had a bit of a rough ride. I would just take the goods until they slowed down and then would neglect them until it was time to start to think of them again. This was generally in August in late winter where I’d be out there in the freezing cold trying to disentangle the patch from a jungle of weeds as … Continue reading Straw for the Strawberries
After weeks of frenzied activity I have awoken to a beautiful blue sky day that already has a bit of heat in it. It is going to be a glorious day. It will be a fabulous Boxing Day. Christmas, unfortunately didn’t start off so kind. It was grey, with a hint of misty rain (the kind of rain that is no good to man nor … Continue reading How the Garden made Christmas Special
Finally I’ve been in the garden, and it was about time too! Slowly but surely I eased myself back into it like a swimmer trying to get into a freezing cold pool. I didn’t want to rush and set myself back. However a neglected garden can be a daunting thing. Where to start? Do you tackle the produce that is ready to harvest, protect the … Continue reading The Late Spring Harvest
My hands have gone soft. My usually chipped and scratched nails are almost at the point that it is worth applying a lick of colour. That deep ingrained dirt that works its way into the crevices of your hand beyond the reach of the scrubbing brush has worked its way back out. The subtle things that mark me as a gardener just by looking me … Continue reading I have a dreadful problem
It was another gorgeous blue sky day today – the kind you can sense the spring in the air. Just a hint mind you. But that hint is enough to set hope and wishful thinking into action. Dreams of the perfect season fill my head. My instinct is to put on my gumboots and do a bit of digging. But alas no. Not today. I … Continue reading Did I mention spring is coming?
Oh my gosh it was so cold! The temperature plummeted this afternoon to 8.5°C. While that may not be cold by most folks standards, it is for us! Areas barely south of us (well areas at least 160km south east of us) got some snow. We always miss out on the fun stuff. We never get snow. Well aside from the brief flurry in 2010 … Continue reading I thought it was going to snow.
Brief: Today, let’s bump up the contrast for a bold take on triumph. The triumphal end result of gardening is in the eating. And what better way than using the strawberries to create a sweet yet sharp topping to complement the glorious sweetness of a white chocolate cheese cake. Then share it with good friends with a large helping of moments old strawberries on the … Continue reading Day 20: Triumph
